S.F.: Smelly steps at BART Embarcadero Station

The stairwell at BART's Embarcadero station that leads up to the Hyatt Hotel.

The stairwell at BART's Embarcadero station that leads up to the Hyatt Hotel.

Photo: Jonathan Curiel

Photo: Jonathan Curiel

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The stairwell at BART's Embarcadero station that leads up to the Hyatt Hotel.

The stairwell at BART's Embarcadero station that leads up to the Hyatt Hotel.

Photo: Jonathan Curiel

S.F.: Smelly steps at BART Embarcadero Station

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RESULTS: DAY 1

BART's Embarcadero stairs: Here was the scene on a recent afternoon at BART's Embarcadero Station: A woman with a backpack sat near the ticket machines and - as people walked by her - she applied eyeliner. Across the way, an older man played Chinese violin, hoping that passers-by would give him coins or (better yet) dollar bills. And at a nearby stairwell, people with suitcases ascended the steps toward Market Street, passing through an assemblage of smells, one of which is found in poorly maintained public restrooms. What's wrong with this picture? The last fact, says Amy Lyons, who e-mailed ChronicleWatch with her concern: "The BART staircase from the Embarcadero Station up to Market Street in front of the Hyatt Hotel wreaks like urine to the point that you can't breathe walking up those stairs. BART needs to wash down that staircase daily. It's disgusting." Lyons' sentiment was relayed to BART, which planned to steam-clean the stairwell Wednesday. BART spokeswoman Luna Salaver said one factor in the smelly steps is the dearth of personnel to clean them. "I found out from our System Service supervisor that the San Francisco cleaning crew is understaffed," Salaver said. "Currently, we are in the process of filling those vacancies. Once the vacancies are filled - and we are hoping that the hiring process will be done and new cleaners on board by mid-August - we can go back to our cleaning schedule of daily spot-mopping and weekly hosing." The new cleaning schedule will undoubtedly make Lyons and other BART riders happier as they ascend and descend the stairwell. Perhaps they'll express their feelings with increased offerings to the violinist and other BART musicians who make their commutes a little more tolerable.